history lesson

DayBird - June 4th

1584 – Sir Walter Raleigh establishes the first English colony on Roanoke Island, in the New World. They flourish.

1769 – A transit of Venus is followed five hours later by a total solar eclipse, the shortest such interval in history. Guillaume Le Gentil spent eight years travelling in an attempt to observe the transit, his unsuccessful journey led to dysentery, his wife leaving, fortune plundered and being declared dead.

1896 - In the shed behind his home on Bagley Avenue in Detroit, Henry Ford unveils the "Quadricycle," the first automobile he ever designed or drove. The two cylinder engine could produce 4 horsepower, had two gears and no reverse.

1913 – Emily Davison, a suffragette, runs out in front of King George V's horse, Anmer, at the Epsom Derby. She is trampled, never regains consciousness and dies a few days later. On a happier note:

1919 - Congress passes the 19th Amendment!

"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, guaranteeing women the right to vote, is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. On August 18, 1920, Tennessee became the 36th state to ratify the amendment, giving it the two-thirds majority of state ratification necessary to make it the law of the land. Eight days later, the 19th Amendment took effect.

1968 – Senator Robert Kennedy wins the California democratic Presidential Primary. Kennedy is shot the next day at the Ambassador Hotel, in Los Angeles, California.

1975 – Angelina Jolie, American actress, is born. She has tattoos. Russell Brand was also born. I really don’t know who he is. I believe someone mentioned he was funny. I'm still sad about Kennedy.

1982"Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," released in USA. KHHHANNN! I had a dog named Khan growing up; I loved calling him.

1989 – The Tiananmen Square protests are violently ended in Beijing by the People's Liberation Army, in what we like to call the Tiananmen Square Massacre.